Buffing mechanism



Sept. 25, 1928.

J. F. O'CONNOR BUFFI NG MECHANI SM Filed March 5l, 1927 TIT ' Ver head, the latter under Patented Sept. 25, '1928.

'.iloniv'r. oconnoR, or CHICAGO', ILLINOIS, AssIenoa To Ir, Minna; Inc., 'or

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Aconronarioiv or DELAWARE.

BUFFING ivinonanrsivi.

Application led March 31,1927.` 1 Serial No. 179,864;

his invention relates to bufing mechanisms.

An object of vthis invention is to provide `a bufling mechanism for a railway car, comprising a housing enclosing all of vthe working parts thereof, the working parts includ` ing a main spring resistance, a friction pro# ducing system, and a yieldably mounted buffthe influence of lighter shocksv being movable inwardly against relatively light' spring resistance without operation of the friction producing system, and under heavier shocks being mov able an additional distance toelfect opera` tion of the friction resistance.

Another object of the invention is to prosystem and main spring i vide a bufling mechanism of this character in which a follower is associated with the rmain spring resistance, and the friction sysfriction shoes which wedge, `together with preliminary springs, the inner wedge and friction shoes and the outer ends of which bear upon the buffer head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buffer of this type in which the housing is of-fabricated construction comprising channel members secured together with the flanges thereof disposed in vspaced relation to form guide-ways'for moving parts of the mechanism. Y ,t

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a buffer of this type means for securing the channel members together, .including spacing andv securing. elements' at front and rear, the former of which serves to limit outward movement ofthe buffer head, and the latter of which provides an abutting wall for the rear ends` of the springs forming the main spring resistance, in conjunction witli an intermediate-spacing and securing casing which co-operates with the channel members and provides an anchorage and enclosing means for the members ofthe friction system. I f

Still another object of the invention is to provide wedge members having projecting bosses thereon adapted to extend through suitable openings in the reinforcing casing and the webs of the channel members, whereby the wedge members aredetachably `ani ends of which bear upon theV chored against longitudinal movement with reference to the buffer housing.

V Otherand further objects of the inventionv vwill more clearly appear from the descripy tion and claims hereinafterfollowing.

In the drawings forming part of this specie' 'ficatiom Figure l is a vertical longitudinalr sectional view taken.y centrally through the end platform of a railway carand showing the invention applied thereto. Figure V.2 is a Vtop plan view of the butfing ineehanisin de-l nism. Figure` l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the .invention correspond ing substantially lto Vline e-eoffligure r2. And Figure '5 is a transverse sectionalvview of ',the buffer; corresponding substantially to line 5-. 5 of Figure 4. I l f As Vshown in the drawings, l() `denotes the end lplatform of a passenger car provided with a centralpocket 11v for .the reception of va bufiing mechanism `indicated broadly by the numeral 12, the bufng mechanism being maintained in position'y by means of a bar 13 extending transversely Yacrossl the bottom of' V,the pocket 1l and connected to portions of the under-frame. The'usual center stem member is indicated by thenuineral 14, theY inner Vend of which co-acts withthe buiing .mecha-V nism 12 while the outer end thereof co-'acts with the bufling platform l5,.wliich,is supported in position by the usual side Vstems not shown.

The buffer proper comprises a pair of oppositely disposed channel members` 16-116, the webs of which formv the top'andbottom "walls of the buiferhousing, while the side walls of the housing are formedby the adjacent flanges 17-17 of the channel members 16.16, together so as to .space the adjacent endsof the flanges 17-17 to provide a guideway 18 at each side of the housing'. u,

The rear end-s of the channel ,bars

the channel members being secured yin a manner hereinafter described ioo are secured together and held in .spaced'relm tion by means of a rectangular'member 19 inserted between the webs kand flangesof the channel members and heldin position means of a plurality of rivets indicatedat spaced pairs of rivets 22-22, t-lie rivets of each pair being'suriiounded by spacing thimbles 23 connected by a web port-ion.

Intermediate the ends of the channel member 1616 is a combined spacing-and securi opposed friction lsurfaces preferably con-l 'ing :shell 24, which encloses the friction system hereinafter described. The shell 24 comprises side walls 25-25 spaced inwardly fioni Ythe flanges Uf-17 at each side of the mechannism, as best shown in Figure 5, and top and bottom walls 26-26, each of the latter being provided with oppositely extending flanges 27-27 which are riveted to the webs of the channel members 16-16 by rivets 28-28, thereby securely connecting the channel members 1(3*16 together atan intermediate point, and maintaining the same in properly spaced relation.

Each of the top and bottom walls 26-26 at a. central point is provided with an opening 29fwhich registers with a corresponding opening 30 in the adjacent web of one of the channel members 16,-16, each pair of openings being adapted forthe reception of a boss 31 formed integrally with each of the liners 32-32. The liners 32-32 fit against the top and bottom walls of the shell 424 and each has on its outer surface a friction surface 33, the

verging inwardly ofthe mechanism. The forward endsof the liners 32-32 lit behind Shoulders 34-#34 formed upon the inner surface of the shell 24. 'Cooperating with the Wedge faces of thewedge members 32-32 are top and lbottomv friction shoes 35-35 of like construction, each of the shoes/having an outer friction' surface co-acting with the fric.-

k,tion surface 33 of one of the liners 32-32,

and having a wedge face 37 on the inner side cio-operating with a centrally disposed wedge VV38. At, their rear ends the friction shoes w35--35 'bear upon lugs formed on a spring 'follower 39 which is limited initsforward movement by the shell 24, and which is movable rearwardly against the resistance offered bythe springs'40-40 which provide themain Spring resistance of the mechanism, the rear ends of the springs 40-40being disposed in vthe arcuate seats 2l-21. l

The wedge 38 is provided with a forwardlyeXtending projection 41 adapted'to be engaged by a post 42 formed upon the buffer head 43 of the mechanism. The head 43 of fthe'mechanism comprises a forward wall the kiside portions ofwhich are Icut-out as indives cated at 'i4- 44, and the walls defining the cut-out portions engage the thimbles 23-23 ,the post 42 to provide a recess 146 for thereception of inner and outer springs 47 and 48, the outer spring having its ends bearing upon the inner surface of the buffer head and the forward ends of the friction shoes S35-35, while the spring 48 which is of smaller diameterand disposed within the spring47, bears upon the inner surface of the bufler head and shoulders 49 of the wedge 88, the springs 47 and 48 being of less capacity than the springs 40-40. v

Under the influence of a relatively light shock, the buffer platform l5 will move in- Wardly, carryinof with it the center stem 14, the inner end ofb which will bear against theV buiferhead v43 moving'the same inwardly with reference to the housing 12,7compressing the springs 47 and 48 against the wedge 38 and friction shoes 35-35, and the follower 39, which is resisted by the springs 40-40, the buffer head 43 being guided in this move- Yment bythe sliding movement of the ribs 46 in the guides 18 formed by theflanges 17 ,17 of the channel members. Due to the difference in the capacity of the preliminary springs 47-48 and the main springs 40-40, andthe dispositon of the members forming the friction system, no action of the friction system will occur, and upon Vremoval of the relatively light pressure from the buffer head 43, the same will resume its initial position uiider influence of the preliminary springs 4 N48. shocks, the buffer head necessarily will move a -greater distance, and under theseL conditions, the movement initially will .be against the tension oered by the preliminarysprings 47 and 48', and thereafter upon Contact ofthe lUnder the influence of heavier` inner end of thepost 42 of the buffer head i movement of the follower 39 bearing upon the shoes 35--35 which operate upon the wedge and preliminary springs to force the buffer Y head outwardly to itsnormal positiomoutward -movement of the buffer head being limited by engagement with the thimbles 2 3 secured to the rivets 22-22.

WhileI have herein shown and .described f what I consider the preferred-.manner of carrying out `the invention, the saine is merely illustrative; and l contemplate 4all changes and modifications which come within the scope ofl thev claims appended'hereto.'

I claim: I

1. ln a bufiing mechanism, the combination with a housing having longitudinally extending guides; cf a main spring resistance arranged in said housing; a' friction system comprising stationary liners secuied'to said housing; and friction lshoes and a wedge cooperating with said shoes, said wedge and shoes being longitudinally movable vwith referenceto said housing,and 'said friction shoes bearing against said'main spring resistance; a buffer head movably mounted in said housing and adapted to engage said wedge rafter preliminary movement of said buffer l'head av predetermined distance, said bufferv head beingprovided with guide arms slidably disposed in the longitudinally extending guides of 'said housing; and preliminary yieldableme'ans interposed betweenl said buer headand said shoes and wedge and c-ompressible between saidV buffer head and shoes and wedge for absorbing relatively light shocks prior' to engagement of said y buffer head and said wedge, after which said friction shoes and wedge are moved longitudinally with reference to said housing against- 'the pressure of said main-spring resistance.v

2. ln a hurling mechanism; the combination with a fabricated housing-made up of separate elongated members; means Aforsecuring said members together, including a centi-ally disposed shell; and vspacing andA securing members arranged. at opposite ends of said housing, said shell being provided with, interior friction surfaces; a wedge ;`friction shoes engaged by said wedge, said shoes cooperating with the shell friction surfaces; a main spring resistance disposed in said housing and bearing against the spacing and securing members at one end thereof and against said frictionshoes; a buffer head at the opposite end of said housing and adapted to abut against said spacing and securing members at the opposite end of said housing to limit outward movement of said buffer head; and preliminary yieldable means interposed between said buffer head and said wedge and friction shoes and adapted to be compressed against said friction shoes and Wedge prior to operative movement of the latter against said main spring resistance.

3. In a builing mechanism, the combination with a `fabricated housing made up of oppositely disposed elongated channel members, the flanges of whichare arranged in spaced relation to provide longitudinally extending guides; of means for securing lsaid channel members together including a frictionshell,

and spacing and securing members arranged at opposite ends of said housing; movable friction means co-operating with the shell; a main spring resistance in said housing interposed /between the friction/means and the spacing and securing members at one endv of thehousin'g; and a buffer head in said vhousing adaptedV to abut against said spacing and securing'members at Vthe other end of the housing to limitroutward movement of the buffer head; said buffer head'being adapted to engage said friction means and move the latter inwardly of the friction shell against the pressure of said inainspring resistance; said buffer head being'provided with guide arms slidably disposedbetween the spaced flanges of thechannel membersx 4. In abuliing mechanisimthe combination with a fabricatedhousing made up of channel members having their flanges, disposed in spaced relation to provide guides; of means for securing said channel members in operative position, including a centrally arranged casing rigidly secured to said channel meinbersand having Walls spaced from the flanges of said channel members; a buffer headprovided witlifguide armsslidably disposedlin said guides and movable between ,the flanges on said channel members and the adjacent walls of said casing; friction'y elementsv cooperating with said shell; a main spring resistance 1 interposed between said friction elements and a liXedfportion of said housing;

and preliminary springs interposedfbetween said friction element-s and said'buffer head.

lnv a butiing mechanism, the combination with a fabricated housingmade up of channel members having their flanges disposed in spaced relation to provide guides; of means for securingsaid channel members in operative position' including a centrally arranged casing rigidly secured to said channel members andY having walls 'spaced from a fixed portion of said housing; and preliminary springs interposed between said friction meansvand saidy buffer head.

6. A housing for buffers made up of channel shaped members having their flanges arranged in` spaced` relation to provide guides; an integrally formed hollow shell disposed between said-channel members and secured thereto for maintaining said members in predetermined spaced position; a plate-like memberV secured between one set of 4ends of said channel shaped members and maintainand securingrsaid channel members in operative position including a centrally disposed hollow shell, certain vwalls of` which are spaced with reference to the flanges of said channel members, and other walls of which lare secured tothe webs of saidchannel mem'- `bers; a-rear abutment wall secured between the rear'walls of said channel members; securing means for the forward walls of said ,Y channel lmembers including spacing thimbles; friction elements cooperating with said Vshell and including friction shoes and a Wedge; a buffer head mounted in said housing, forward movement of which is limited by said Vthimbles, said buffer head being provided with guide arms slidably disposed in said guides; a spring follower' having means v bearing'on the adj acentl end portions of said friction-shoes and upon said shell; a main springresistance interposed between the rear wall ofsaid housing and said spring follower; and preliminary springs interposed between'said buffer head and t e wedge and friction shoes. p

8. In a buing mechanism, the combination Vwith a housing; of aV main spring resistance mounted in said housing.; a friction system arranged' centrally within said housing and comprising fixed friction members, each of which has a boss detachably engageable with an aperture in said housing, anda friction surface adapted to co-,operate with friction shoes arranged between said wedging surfaces; a wedge co-'acting with said friction tween a fixed portion of the housing atl the rear end and saidv friction'system; a buffer head; and preliminary springs interposed between-said buffer/head and the friction system, said buffer head being adapted to engage said wedge to actuate said friction system after predetermined preliminary movement thereof. v

' 9. In a bufiing mechanism, the combination with arectangular housing made up vof opposed channel members, the webs of said channels defining opposed walls of the housing and the flangesv of said vchannels defin ing the remaining walls of said housing land being disposed in. spaced relation to provide guides between their free edges; of spacing means fixed to the channels for securing vthe parts together, one of said spacing means being in the form o f a friction shell;ra buffer head provided' with guide arms slidably dis-V posed in the guides provided by the flanges of 45 shoes; a main springvresistance interposed be- ,f

the channel members; and means forresisting movementof said buffer head inwardly of said housing, including friction means cooperating with the shell. v

i In witness that I claimthe foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my. name this 29th day of March, 192.7.

` Y JOHN F. ofooNNoR. 

